ST. PETERSBURG — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Danny Cox sustained a small chip fracture on his right ankle and will be out for an undetermined amount of time.

The accident happened Sunday afternoon when Cox jumped off a sea wall, estimated to be about three feet high. When he landed on the sand, he twisted his right ankle and rolled over. Cox went home and put ice on the sore ankle.

He was not scheduled to make the road trip to play Los Angeles Sunday and instead went fishing.

The Cards took X-rays Monday morning and found the fracture.

Stan London, the team doctor, was flying back to St. Louis but trainer Gene Gieselmann rushed the X-rays to Tampa Airport where London determined that Cox's ankle was not serious enough for a cast at this time.

The Cardinals said a determination on whether a cast was necessary and how long Cox will be out will be made Wednesdsay. Cox has not been placed on the disabled list.

St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog said the injury will give right-hander Rick Ownbey a chance to pitch.

''It's not shattering,'' Herzog said about the injury. ''He might be back in two weeks according to what London said. Sometimes good things happen with these injuries. Rick Ownbey is going to get a chance to start, and he might blossom.

''It might end up with Ownbey showing he's a starter. If he Cox was going to be out a month or two, then I would say I hope we don't get buried before he gets back.''

Dal Maxvill, Cardinals general manager, said he will wait to see the severity of the injury before looking for a replacement for Cox.